Texas law can be very difficult and confusing when it comes to matters of child custody and child support. The primary goal of the courts is to do what is best for the child, which means a custody arrangement that is in the best interests of the child and determining child support that ensures that the child will be provided for as it grows. Unfortunately, Texas courts can get a little zealous when it comes to these support orders, and it can be very difficult to have them changed.
A Texas man has spent the last 13-years paying child support, despite a DNA test establishing that he could not possibly be the child’s father. Not only is he not the child’s father, but he has never even seen or spoken to the little girl. For more than a decade, the man’s paycheck has been garnished, and it has caused him to struggle financially. It all started because the girl’s mother named the man as the baby’s father.
The child’s mother later informed the courts that he was in fact not the father, but even though he no longer must pay child support, the man is still facing his share of financial strains. Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. In fact, it is so common in Texas that it is frequently asked about at the Texas Attorney General’s office.
Instances like this prove why family law attorneys are so necessary, even to people who do not have families. A simple lie or mistake can have you paying unnecessary child support for years if you do not handle the matter appropriately and quickly. If you have any legal issues about family matters, it is in your best interests to speak with an attorney.
Source: My Fox Detroit, “Man Has Been Paying Child Support For 13 Years Despite Negative DNA Test,” March 24, 2015